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Thursday, October 31, 2013

It's Halloween! All I've done to celebrate is eat some candy corn... and then remember that I don't like candy corn. Le sigh. If you want to celebrate in literary style, may I suggest a few of the following spooky reads.

Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in the same house
as Laszlo. Mostly, though, the dark stays in the basement and doesn't
come into Lazslo's room. But one night, it does. This is the story of how Laszlo stops being afraid of the dark. With emotional insight and poetic economy, two award-winning talents team up to conquer a universal childhood fear.

Bod is an unusual boy who
inhabits an unusual place-he's the only living resident of a graveyard.
Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery
denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time
as well as their timely ghostly teachings-like the ability to Fade. Can a boy raised by ghosts face
the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead?
And then there are things like ghouls that aren't really one thing or
the other.

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,
an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a
thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family
tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off
the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss
Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned
bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than
just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been
quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible
though it seems—they may still be alive. A spine-tingling fantasy
illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

Jack
Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a
fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel,
he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and
working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the
idyllic location feels ever more remote . . . and more sinister. And the
only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the
Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.

The chilling movie we could not forget . . . The Exorcist
changed popular culture forever.Forty years ago, the movie that was
based onWilliam Peter Blatty's runaway #1 bestseller—agroundbreaking
story of faith and supernaturalsuspense—held audiences captive. Now this
specialedition commemorates the 40th anniversary of the iconic film
that paved the way for the entire genrethat followed it: the
unforgettable The Exorcist.

Two of these tights have secret. They are fleece lined. That should get me through the worst days of winter. They other pairs are black tights with some fun designs. I purchased all of these from Francesca's.

I might be the rare librarian that actually enjoys shelving. Back when it was my daily job, I was not shelvings biggest fan. Now, since I don't do it 9 to 5, I miss it. Shelving offers "me time" and chance encounters with books.

Shelving is a solitary activity. I love being alone in the stacks with a cart, my iPod playing music or an NPR story. The solo time allows me to get in the groove - Grab a stack of books, find their homes, put them away. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Shelving can put me in a zen like state. Once I'm on a roll, I can shelve and shelve until all the carts are empty. It's not often you can zone out and still be productive. I find the routine action of shelving to be calming. It gives me a chance to think about whatever is on my mind, or I can simply enjoy what's playing in my ear.

I also love shelving because I have random encounters with books. There is no way I can check out all the books in the library, so seeing what others have checked out allows me to put my hands on books I might otherwise have never discovered. On more than one occasion, I've returned from a shelving trip with one or two books I want to give a try.

Shelving, I think, is a greatly under appreciated activity. It's also a good workout when you do it for a few hours.

Monday, October 28, 2013

The Atlantic, October 2013 - This issue didn't have one single HUGE article that I normally expect to read. Instead, this issue was composed of shorter (for this magazine) essays and all of them were quite good. I very much enjoyed the two articles on high school. The first was how sports are ruining high school - and it did give me a better idea of how students lose focus on their work when sports are there. The second was on homework overload. That one gave me flashbacks. I also greatly enjoed the articles on terrorism in Mali and how the US economy is recovering.

Books

I started reading (as in, I'm 5 pages into) Erica Bauermeister's Joy For Beginners. So far it promises to live up to her other books.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

TITLE: The ART of People Management in Libraries: Tips for Managing Your Most Vital ResourceAUTHOR: James McKinlay and Vicki Williamson STARTED: August 22, 2013 FINISHED: October 1, 2013 PAGES:289 GENRE: Library Science

FIRST SENTENCE: In the pages that follow is a book which has been waiting to be written for some time.

SUMMARY: [From Amazon] This book explores recent trends in human resource management practices
in the continually changing 21st century information environment.
Authors James McKinlay and Vicki Williamson present an array of
practical options for incorporating these important management practices
into the library environment, with especially targeted guidance for
academic and research libraries. There is a discussion of the most
pressing HR management issues facing senior library leaders, as well as a
number of effective tips for solving personnel issues and managing
workers. The authors also include a highly useful 10-step strategic
people management model, along with real life examples of successful
policy implementation.

THOUGHTS: This book was a total ego project - at least that was the vibe I got. The last chapter is the only thing worth reading; it's the only part of the book which I found applicable to how to manage employees.

I love fashion and style, but I, myself, am not the best at putting outfits together. Yesterday, however, I was quite pleased with my choices. I have brown tights and boots to thank. They helped turn a summer dress into a fall outfit.

Now I just need to start posing like one of those outfit-of-the-day bloggers.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

SUMMARY: [From BN] Cassia’s journey began with an
error, a momentary glitch in the otherwise perfect façade of the
Society. After crossing canyons to break free, she waits, silk and paper
smuggled against her skin, ready for the final chapter. The wait is over.

One young woman has raged against
those who threaten to keep away what matters most—family, love, choice.
Her quiet revolution is about to explode into full-scale rebellion.
With exquisite prose, the emotionally gripping conclusion to the
internationalbestselling Matched trilogy returns Cassia, Ky, and Xander
to the Society to save the one thing they have been denied for so long,
the power to choose.

THOUGHTS: I was disappointed in how this series ended. The build-up over the first two books was amazing, but then this third volume just fizzled. The whole illness thing that happens felt uncessary to me. In fact, the entirety of Reached felt disconnected from the first two books in the series. The main bit of drama (the plague thing) in the story felt like it was written solely to give the author a reason to write a third book. Dislike.

The one thing I did like about how the series ended was that the politics of it all felt real. One person's uprising is another person's rebellion is another person's business-as-usual.

All in all, the writing and characters were fine, but Reached felt like the wrong conclusion for the series.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

I read an article called "What is Librarian 2.0." It was eh. It was supposed to explore the new skills need in the library profession, but I thought it failed to actually make a point beyond, "Here is what our survey says!"

Magazines

National Geographic, October 2013 - This was the photo issue and I thought it was quite lovely. Obviously the images were stunning, but I also enjoyed the personal stories written by the photographers. I recommend picking up this issue.

Brides, October/November 2013 - I enjoyed looking at all the dresses in this issue. Since I bought my dress a few weeks ago, it was nice to see that, while I liked many of the dresses in this issue, I still love my dress more. Phew!

Martha Stewart Weddings, Fall 2013 - See the above comment. Adding to that, I also enjoyed the article that discussed, in specifics, how dresses are constructed. I also enjoyed the article on the Cs of diamonds. I learned something.

Books

I finished Anna Godbersen's book, The Luxe. It was the lone hold-over from read-a-thon and I found it to be a perfectly soap-operay YA book. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

When I shop at used bookstores, one thing I always check for is a bookplate. These add-ins help to tell a story and history of the book's travels. Who owned it? Was it a gift? Did some young child add their name in an act of possession? Is the bookplate itself just really, really pretty? Bookplates are fun additions to books that always make me smile.

Last year, we found a book hanging out in the stacks at work. It was not particularly old or pretty, but the bookplate was amazing. This bookplate was attached to a book that was printed in German block text. I have no idea what the content of the book was, but the bookplate was clear as day. It was the symbol of the Third Reich. Talk about a "woah" moment. The book might not have been all that rare or old, but our Rare Books department was happy to add it to their collection because of the bookplate.

Bookplates are also stunningly beautiful. Some bookplates are simple line drawings but many offer intricate designs and beautiful color work. Most bookplates are square or rectangular shaped, but I've circles, hearts and triangles; I've even seen full-page bookplates. Stanford has a great online exhibit (or you Google the word "bookplate").

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Okay, now that I'm mobile and have coffee in hand, it's time to wrap-up read-a-thon. In the end I finished five books (and almost half of six) for a total of 1,408. After some math, that means I will be donating $70.40 to First Book. Since I like easier numbers, I will be rounding that up to $75.

Now onto the end-of-event survey:

Which hour was most daunting for you?

Definitely Hour 18, my last. I could barely keep my eyes open.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

Anything by Erica Bauermeister has been a winner for me. I also find that YA is better suited for read-a-thon.

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

I thought it was awesome this year. I've got no changes.

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

I loved the pre-event posts. They really got me excited for read-a-thon.

How many books did you read?

I finished 5.5 books.

What were the names of the books you read?

Simply Scones by
Leslie Weiner and Barbara Albright

Skinny by Donna
Cooner

The Food You Crave
by Ellie Krieger

The Lost Art of Mixing
by Erica Bauermeister

McGuire’s Irish Pub
Cookbook by Jessie Tirsch

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen (Half-Finished)

Which book did you enjoy most?

The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister

Which did you enjoy least?

McGuire's Irish Pub Cookbook by Jessie Tirsch

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

This is going to auto-post. Read-a-thon always makes the day after "interesting." That means that I am either a) in bed, b) bleary-eyed but awake and seeking coffee like a zombie seeks brains, or c) passed out on the couch sleeping with my face contorted into a not so pretty demeanor.

Worth it every time.

Magazines

Food Network, October 2013 - The cover of this issue was so comforting and scrumptious looking that I was disappointed when I got to those recipes. The cover store was for comfort food soups - like pulled pork, lasagna, and cheese-steak. Yeah, not so appetizing for me. Oh well. I did like the recipe for soft pretzels. I also enjoyed reading the fun, behind the scenes facts about the early years of the network.

Books

A few days before read-a-thon, I finished Robin LaFevers Dark Triumph. It was just as good as the first book in the series. I'll have a complete review up soon, but I am already eagerly anticipating the third book in this series.

As you might have read, I finished all of the following items during read-a-thon.

Simply Scones by
Leslie Weiner and Barbara Albright

Skinny by Donna
Cooner

The Food You Crave
by Ellie Krieger

The Lost Art of Mixing
by Erica Bauermeister

McGuire’s Irish Pub
Cookbook by Jessie Tirsch

Other

I'm a big fan of most the stuff I read on Slate, but I found this post on wedding dress shopping to be particularly interesting. I freely admit that I love to watch Say Yes to the Dress and any other wedding related show (Four Weddings, Bridezillas, etc.). Every now and then I see a dress and tell The Fiance, "She stole my dress!" I'm trying to throw him off the scent of what I purchased - it's also fun to annoy him a tad.

THOUGHTS?: What I am reading through heavy eyelids is still very entertaining.

SNACKS AND STUFF: I brushed my teeth in lieu of food.

COMPANION UPDATE: Lady B and I sound like we're both going to call it a night soon. To follow-up the previous post, she said that she would be Pinky. The Brain is still out doing whatever it is that they do when they're out.

ANYTHING ELSE?: You know you should call it a night when even jumping jacks can't keep your eyes open. You might not hear from me again. 18 hours is not too shabby.

THOUGHTS?: For 10 pages, it's not bad. I spotted this book years ago (because of the pretty cover), and added it to my mental TBR list.

SNACKS AND STUFF: Nothing this hour, but I think I may need a s'mores bar soon.

COMPANION UPDATE: Lady B has sent me a correction. She ate a real dinner, but it was not exciting and scarfed down to quickly to photograph. I like the idea of wine and carbs better anyway. Also, we were both highly disappointed in how poorly the Capitals played. They lost 5-1. Boo.

ANYTHING ELSE?: It's still raining. It's been raining for days. We needed it, but now Mother Nature is just being ridiculous.

THOUGHTS?: This book is making me want to get into the kitchen and makes some stews and soda breads.

SNACKS AND STUFF: I snarfled down some pizza.

We like to get two topping styles.

COMPANION UPDATE: The Fiance ate pizza, read some more, and is now preparing to leave me to hang out with friends downtown. Noooo! Actually, it's probably a good idea as these here books have monopolized my attention.

Lady B made herself a dinner of carbs and wine. I approve most heartily. Apparently, she also feels guilty about flipping through the Crate+Barrel Christmas catalog.

CURRENTLY READING: Soooooooo close to finishing The Lost Art of Mixing.

THOUGHTS?: So damn good. I'm kinda bummed I had to stop to write up a blog post.

SNACKS AND STUFF: The pizza just arrived. Like, as I was sitting up to write this... and then pause to take a picture.

COMPANION UPDATE: The Fiance buzzed in the pizza. Lady B had a brilliant insight: "Also speaking of food, I think readathon has become read a bit and do all of the things that go well with reading: listening to music, cooking, baking, drinking wine/beer/tea/coffee, yelling at sports."

ANYTHING ELSE?: I am buying this book (and the one that goes with it) to give to my mother. I think she'd love them.

THOUGHTS?: This is still a very, very good book. There have been some heart-breaking moments so I am beginning to wonder how it is all going to wrap up.

SNACKS AND STUFF: I had one more pepper strip and refilled my water bottle. We're about to put the nibbles away so that we actually have time to work up an appetite for dinner. Gotta save room for pizza.

COMPANION UPDATE: Lady B has decided to stretch her legs a bit. "I decided to put away some laundry as I was starting to feel like a pretzel from sitting on the couch for so long. Cranberry orange bread is officially a go. Just as soon as I finish making more tea..."

The Fiance has started to place GTA5. I've been watching him play since the game arrived (it's a fascinating storyline and a stunningly beautiful world) - but watching that and reading wedding stuff has led to the weirdest dreams. The weirdest.

ANYTHING ELSE?: The Fiance has outdone himself again. He decided to get me a random shiny bobble. It comes with matching earrings.

The twist even emulates the ring he got me after the last read-a-thon. I think I'll keep him.

THOUGHTS?: It's still quite good. I'm loving how the individual story lines keep intersecting with one another.

SNACKS AND STUFF: I had some water. The lunch nibbles are still out for grazing, but I think we'll pack the leftovers up soon.

COMPANION UPDATE: He's watching an SEC game and doing something on his laptop. There was mention of playing GTA5 soon. Lady B asks, "Do I make bread or read October's real simple?" I told her to do both.

ANYTHING ELSE?: I got comfy on the couch and felt myself drifting in and out. I might need to shift around a bit so I don't end up napping.

THOUGHTS?: This is so good! I need to track down everything this author has ever written. I am in love with her style of writing.

SNACKS AND STUFF: Still nibbling on lunch. Look at the carnage!

Less noms.

COMPANION UPDATE: The Fiance is nearing the end of the Percy Jackson book. He was very amused that they reference The Walking Dead. Lady B "finished a Sunday crossword puzzle" and made herself a delicious looking meal.

ANYTHING ELSE?: In lieu of music (my computer needs to cool down), we've put on a football game. Sadly, ND does not play today. Thank goodness the Caps are on tonight (I shall be reading and watching at the same time).

THOUGHTS?: This is the sequel to Bauermeister's previous book, The School of Essential Ingredients, which I read a few read-a-thons ago. So far it has the same magical quality I loved about the first book.

CURRENTLY READING: I just finished Ellie Krieger's The Food You Crave.

THOUGHTS?: OMGoodness everything in here looked so good. I developed a hungry. I maybe went a little overboard "pinning" recipes I want to try. That always happens when I flip through a Krieger cookbook.

Flaggity-flag.

SNACKS AND STUFF: Nothing this hour (aside from water). We're about to layout the lunch spread. That should satisfy the gremlin in my stomach.

COMPANION UPDATE: Lady B says: "Huzzah! I am up to September in my magazine pile. This seems like a good time to run a few errands and finally make the frittata I was going to make for breakfast." The Fiance decided it was time to bust out ALL the devices.

THOUGHTS?: I has cravings! I mean, just look at what I'm dealing with here.

SNACKS AND STUFF: Nothing this time. I think we'll decided to lay out the lunch nibbles soon. Also, I should probably have some water. I think the fizziness of the mimosas went to my head a bit.

COMPANION UPDATE: The Fiance is still reading (and doing some actual work for the office too... Boo). Lady B sent the following: "Still reading through my stack of magazines and listening to music. Soundtracks are awesome for reading for long periods of time. I also decided my apartment should smell good."

THOUGHTS?: This book is getting better. I actually had a few laugh-out-loud giggles. I am very intrigued to see how everything plays out.

SNACKS AND STUFF: The egg and sausage casserole came out of the oven.

Thanks for the recipe, Mom!

Then we added banana blueberry muffins and mimosas to our breakfast feast.

COMPANION UPDATE: The Fiance is working on the latest addition to the Percy Jackson series. He's reading it on his new Kindle. His review this far, "It's good." Man of many words, that one.

Lady B sent the following message and picture: "I have formulated a plan. I don't want to get sucked into a good book just yet so I'm going to dive into my backlog of magazines and catalogs to finally get through them. This way I'll still feel slightly productive, and I have a chance at tearing myself away from the couch to do errands/chores. Also, I might remember to stretch more than once today!"

THOUGHTS?: This book is kind of tough to read. There is a lot of emotion and struggle going on with the main character. Hard to believe this is YA. I don't know if I could have handled this story as a younger reader.

SNACKS AND STUFF: I poured more coffee. I don't really need the caffeine boost, but I really wanted to take a picture of my uber-cute mug.

Most. Perfect. Mug.

I also popped the egg and sausage casserole into the oven. Here's a before picture:

This is not healthy, but it is delicious.

COMPANION UPDATE: Surprise! The Fiance is up. I was shocked he got out of bed before ten. I also received this message from Lady B: "Awake! But I'm just doing a crossword puzzle and debating a shower."

ANYTHING ELSE?: It's warm in here! Our apartment building is switching from AC to heat. We may need to pop open the windows.

THOUGHTS?: I'm only 18 pages in, but so far so good. It's got a mildly cruel tone so far, but I think that's on purpose. We shall see where this goes.

I already finished my first book. I cheated with a cookbook about scones. It was delectable, and I flagged a few recipes to try out. Now I wish I had made scones instead of muffins to go with the egg and sausage casserole.

SNACKS AND STUFF: I had my kick-off snack of yogurt with granola and honey. I also had my first cup of coffee. Speaking of which, I need a re-fill

COMPANION UPDATE: The Fiance is still in bed. By the evidence I see in the living room, he was up late reading last night. If he doesn't get up by 10, I think I might have to entice him with the aroma of a baking breakfast dish.

ANYTHING ELSE?: I bought the scone book from a used bookstore. Turns out it was once someone's Christmas present.

I shall be starting this morning with Simply Scones. To accompany my read, I have made a kick-off snack of greek yogurt with granola and honey. Also, let us not forget the all important coffee.

Oooo. Mise en place.

The Fiance is still in bed and will rouse himself at some time to be determined. I would be remiss if I did not make a special, awwwww note. During the last read-a-thon in April, The Fiance was just "The Boyfriend." He proposed to me the Sunday after read-a-thon at a local vineyard we both love. He thought the timing would be awesome cause it would be my perfect weekend. Reading, food, wine tasting, shiny bling? Yes, please! The Fiance did think about proposing during read-a-thon itself, but he thought I would like it better if I could read all day. He was right. Kudos to him for knowing me so well.

Before I go tackle the first book of this read-a-thon, here are my answers to the opening survey:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

- Silver Spring, MD (Just outside of DC, where it has been raining for days on end now.)

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

- The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica Bauermeister

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

- The s'mores bars. I made them last night and I can't wait to finally try them.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

- I like books and current events. I have a tendency to yammer on at length about both.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?

- This is my (don't wanna do maths) read-a-thon. This go-round, I'm starting with a really short book to give me a sense of accomplishment. I also went heavy on the female writers, which was just a random thing I noticed two seconds ago.

Good luck fellow readers and cheerleaders! If you need a boost, I always find that the theme from Meet the Press gives me an extra surge of power.